In pictures: CES 2013 pre-show highlights

The best tech in the lead-up to CES 2013.

CES is the biggest consumer electronics show on the planet. Total exhibit space measures a mind-boggling 1.6 million square feet, or roughly 35 American football fields. Here are some of the technology highlights from the pre-show press briefings.

Journalists and bloggers from around the world congregate on CES Unveiled for a taste of what's in store over the coming days. The pre-show event showcases the most innovate CES products in one place, allowing the press to get up close and personal with the new technology. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

Lenovo introduced its new tablet/laptop hybrid; the Thinkpad Helix. The 11.6in tablet runs on Windows 8 and comes with a keyboard docking station which boosts battery life. Specifications include a third-gen Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid state storage. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

Lenovo's IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC is a 27in Windows 8 tablet computer allowing multiple users to interact with the device at once. The device can also be used as an all-in-one PC via a built-in stand. The Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC will be sold through both its channel and website, starting this winter at US$1,699. (Australian pricing and availability has yet to be announced.) [Photo credit: Getty Image]

Sony showed off its new flagship smartphone during its press conference: the 5in Xperia Z. The phone comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor and a 13 megapixel Exmor camera. It can also be submerged in water (up to one metre for 30 minutes). According to Sony, the model's battery provides up to 14 hours of 3G talk time. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

Huawei unveiled its new flagship smartphone, the Ascend Mate. The mammoth 6.1in device pushes the 'phablet' concept to the limit. It comes with a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU and runs Android Jelly Bean. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

An iPhone using HzO Waterblock technology is displayed in a bowl of water. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

The Sharp Aquos Pad is one of the first devices to boast an indium gallium zinc oxide display (AKA 'IGZO'). It is capable of producing sharper images than LCDs while also using less power. Specs include a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 1GB of RAM running on Android Ice Cream Sandwich. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

The Parrot Flower Power is a horticulturalist tool that assesses a plant's environmental needs using a variety of sensors. This information is then relayed to the user's smart phone or tablet in a bid to keep their plants green and happy. The app includes dedicated support for thousands of plant species. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

Netgear Vice President of Engineering David Henry holds up a VueZone wireless camera during a CES press conference. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

Sharp's US president John Herrington unveils a new line of Sharp high definition televisions during a CES press conference. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

The Allure Energy Eversense is an electronic energy management system which allows users to control their home environment using a smartphone. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

These Liquid Image goggles come with a WiFi enabled waterproof camera capable of shooting 1080p video. They are designed for extreme sports enthusiasts with a penchant for snow. [Photo credit: Getty Image]

Diego Romeu of 3M Touch Systems demonstrates one of the company's flagship 84-inch touch tables. The products are used in a variety of business verticals, including retail and health care. [Photo credit: Getty Image]